“Employers inform me consistently, we’ve obtained jobs going wanting, we are able to’t get the employees as a result of they will’t cross a drug screening and varied different issues.”
By Rachel Mipro, Kansas Reflector
Kansas lawmakers mentioned marijuana legalization, political stances and state funding had been potential roadblocks in addressing the state’s extreme workforce scarcity.
Sen. Virgil Peck, R-Havana, mentioned the Particular Committee on Workforce Improvement wanted to speak about marijuana legalization earlier than lawmakers mentioned it through the upcoming legislative session.
Lawmakers handed a movement to make a suggestion that the legislature “proceed with warning” with marijuana laws through the Monday committee listening to, by a 4-3 vote.
Peck introduced up the problem, saying the thought got here to him earlier in that day whereas having a shower.
“I didn’t consider it till having a shower this morning, about 7:30. It got here to me that that performs into workforce growth,” he mentioned.
Peck mentioned marijuana was a major drawback in his a part of the state, with employers not prepared to rent workers who couldn’t cross a drug check. He mentioned that marijuana was a security legal responsibility, and will impede enterprise the place staff had to make use of heavy equipment and may very well be injured.
“Employers inform me consistently, we’ve obtained jobs going wanting, we are able to’t get the employees as a result of they will’t cross a drug screening and varied different issues,” Peck mentioned.
Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stilwell, mentioned he agreed with Peck that individuals who imbibed marijuana may trigger issues within the office.
Different lawmakers on the assembly mentioned they weren’t capable of vote on the advice, as the problem had not been mentioned earlier than the assembly. Sen. Brenda Dietrich, R-Topeka, abstained from the vote.
“I feel my solely concern is we’re inserting one thing that hasn’t been vetted on this committee on the final minute,” Dietrich mentioned. “And I perceive what you’re saying, it’s simply not an acceptable place for us to take as a committee.”
Medical marijuana has lengthy been a controversial matter in Kansas, with many advocating for the drug as a ache aid substitute that’s much less addictive than opioids
Rep. Stephanie Clayton, D-Overland Park, opposed the advice, saying that legislators didn’t must be drug examined, so neither ought to Kansas staff.
“I don’t like the thought of imposing one thing on the individuals, setting completely different guidelines for us than them. In order that’s a giant difficulty, and I even have issues, as a result of I feel—in reality, I do know, medicinal and leisure hashish can be useful to a enterprise growth, particularly within the higher Kansas Metropolis space, the place that is already legalized in Missouri,” Clayton mentioned.